Merrin urges green survey feedback

By
KATE McILWAIN

Merrin urges green survey feedback

A long overdue revision of Wollongong City Council's environmental policy is a big step forward for the protection of the city's natural resources, according to Greens councillor Jill Merrin.

Cr Merrin has called for residents to come forward with ideas to make Wollongong more sustainable as the draft environmental sustainability strategy is placed on public exhibition today.

The plan will update the existing policy, which was last reviewed in 2002.

"The strategy brings together the different areas of the council which affect our natural environment," Cr Merrin said.

"From weed control to managing our rubbish, planning suburbs to putting trees on the streets, from how we travel around the city to the types of buildings we want, [and] from protecting biodiversity to educating people about sustainable living."

Cr Merrin also said the policy would put sustainable development principles at the centre of the council's decisions, which she said was important to many residents.

"Council's surveys about what's important to the people of Wollongong always find that people value our green spaces, the escarpment and shorelines very highly," Cr Merrin said.

"Surveys for the [recent] financial sustainability review found that, of all council operations, the only ones people want us to spend more on are environmental management and sustainability programs."

Residents wanting to view or comment on the environmental plan can visit haveyoursaywollongong.com.au.